Explanations

    True to Kiran's prediction, the group reached Northchester's main gate at about four in the afternoon. He craned his neck to see who his deputy had placed on duty for the day. The nearest gatekeeper, a bored-looking man of about twenty, was sitting on the ground with his knees drawn up, arms folded on top of his knees and head rested sideways on top.  Fortunately, his eyes seemed to be open; the lad's head moved when a child's ball rolled over toward them from the marketplace just inside the gate. At least his partner, who was half a decade older, had managed to stay vigilant. Apparently the older guard did not recognize Kiran though, or he would have alerted the younger to his presence. "

    "Slow day, Rodrigo?" remarked Kiran, raising an eyebrow. This was what they did when they didn't expect him to be around?  

    The young man looked up. When he saw who it was, his green eyes went wide and he jumped to his feet. "Constable, sir! Errr... ahh... sorry, I didn't..."

    "I'm not here to comment on your poor gatekeeping etiquette, though it's comforting to know at least you weren't sleeping on the job," the constable said acidly. "I haven't time to remind you how to comport yourself on duty. I'm merely letting you know these six are with me." He indicated the hobbits.

    "Yes, sir, of course, sir," stammered Rodrigo. He turned his attention to the hobbits. "You may pass, sirs and madams."  

    As they passed, Kiran distinctly heard Rodrigo's partner comment, "Oy, that was Constable Mani? When did he start letting his beard grow in? And his clothes look like they haven't been washed since last year. Literally!

    Kiran  led the others through the Gateway Marketplace, as it was known in Northchester. To Rodrigo's defense, it actually did seem to be a very slow day. Aside from the child with the ball, what appeared to be three siblings and her parents and a few other small groups, it was very empty. It was no wonder he and the other gatekeepers looked bored. Besides, Rodrigo was young, not even old enough to receive knighthood. Adolescent boys were easily distracted.

    As for the wooden booths themselves,  nothing was different from what he remembered when he'd left for Drémeadow in December. Same wares. Same signs on the booths. Same merchants.

Nothing had changed. Yet everything had changed.

    Once through the Gateway Marketplace, they passed through several residential areas, some more crowded than others, before the flags on top of the Duke's holding appeared. "See those flags?" he asked his companions in hopes of pointing out the final destination. They shook their heads. Kiran frowned. Wait... they were lower to the ground. Their line of vision must still be blocked by other buildings. "Never mind, I suppose you may need to be closer."

    "The buildings here are very tall," commented Thespina, craning her neck to stare at the cobbler's. "Does everyone have two floors here?"

    "Not everyone," said Kiran. "My Duke has three plus the attic. A lot of a merchants do, though, they live right above their shops. And many on the outskirts and the area where the gnomes live only have one"

    "Gads!" exclaimed Shemaro. "How can they stand being so high up? Ours just live in the back of the shop or nearby!"

    "How do they even get that high?" asked Thespina.

    "Ladders, ya ignoramus," said Rina before Kiran could respond.

    "But how do they not fall- oh, never mind," said Thespina as a partially constructed edifice appeared in the distance. Scaffolding had been erected so the builders could a*s a second floor. "I'd be scared I'd fall, but you humans don't mind heights, do you?"

    Kiran smiled slightly. "Some do," he replied, thinking of Herman, the second-youngest son of the Duke. Herman was mortally afraid of heights when younger. He might still be, but Kiran did not see the young man as much now that he and the youngest, Howard, were away at Bolingbarke University in southern Cancalia most of the year. "That construction there, it's about a mile from His Grace's gates."

    "We're almost there!" exclaimed Lindo.

    "Weren't you the one who was complaining before about how long it was taking?" teased Thespina.

    "Oh, leave me alone. Well, this means soon we'll have food!" said Lindo, beaming. "And high time too, we haven't had anything since those two squirrels between us this morning!"

    "Don't remind me, my stomach's doing it enough," groaned Thespina. "I've had to tighten my belt four notches since we left Drémeadow!"

    "That will soon be amended," Kiran promised.Thespina was definitely not the only one who needed to tighten her belt.  He looked the others up and down. It was very obvious they'd all spent at least a week in the wilderness. He doubted he looked much better. He was not looking forward to the first time he passed a looking-glass. He hadn't even been able to shave! "We should all get ourselves as presentable as possible before we get to the Duke's."

    "Presentable!" squawked Rina, stopping dead. "Presentable! We haven't had a bath since before the Pre-New Years Banquet! Look at our clothes! Or YOURS, for that matter!" She pointed first at the dried mud caked on the bottom of her skirt, then a tear in Kiran's cloak near his elbow. "Look at the state of my sister's hair!" The bottom of Thespina's braid was visibly knotted. "By what stretch are we presentable? This is going to be so humiliating!"

    Lindo rolled his eyes in response to the comments of the older hobbits. "We all look a mess. Even Prince Folco. In fact, he and the others are going  You said as possible for a reason, right Kiran?"

    Kiran replied, "The lack of baths and everything elsewill be amended soon."  He was looking forward to getting himself back to a presentable standard. He was not looking forward to seeing the Duke in his current disheveled condition. Nor did he like that two of his employees had already  The holes large enough to be noticed and pointed out were humiliating. While he was hardly at a hobbit's level of fussiness, he loathed bathing less than four times a week. And being seen by several unemployees in a state he'd never permit of them was outright humiliating.

    Priorities, Kiran, a voice at the back of his head scolded. The refugees' safety and welfare was more important than his pride by miles.   They were all in this together. He couldn't let them down. Not after they'd ended up in a life of exile for defending the possibility of his innocence. For defending the need for proper justice and a fair trial.
    
    "Let's move on," he said. "We're nearly there. The sooner we arrive, the sooner we'll no longer be cold, tired and hungry."

    The hobbits didn't need telling twice.

~*~*~

    When the group was ushered into the Duke's presence, Kiran could immediately tell something was wrong. The Duke's study was messy when it was usually immaculate. His desk was covered in heaps of parchment where it was typically bare. Most disconcerting, however, was how he greeted Kiran and his hobbit companions. Normally, he was greeted with some degree of enthusiasm when he returned from a journey. This time, however, Duke Ivan's mouth was a thin, straight line that did not shift when they entered the room alongside the Duke's men. His mien was as businesslike as Kiran had ever seen it.  Also, he did not acknowledge the hobbits. It was unlike him to ignore travel companions of those in his employ.  Kiran's stomach turned over with nervousness as he stood facing his lord with Lindo at his side and the others behind him. He knows. His Grace knows.

    "Sit," said the Duke after the men who'd escorted Kiran and the hobbits in withdrew to just outside the door. He pointed at a chair in front of the desk. Kiran obeyed. Lindo glanced around uncertainly before retreating several steps to join the other hobbits.  This motion caught Duke Ivan's attention. "I see you've brought some companions back from Drémeadow with you," said the Duke, looking at the hobbits for the first time. His eyes lingered first over every rip and stain in their clothing then  every hollow cheek hinting at their recent dearth of food. His voice was casual, but his shoulders were squared and eyes slightly narrowed. His hands, resting on the arms of his chair, were balled into such tight fists that his knuckles blanched white.

    "I have," said Kiran in trepidation. Was his lord's mind already made up? Or was he like this for a completely unrelated reason? What was he thinking?

    The Duke's blue eyes shifted back to Kiran, roving up and down the paladin before locking their gaze with his. "You are rather later than I expected." Kiran blinked. "I received the message informing me you were to stay until the first of January, you know. I expected you back several days ago."

    Kiran lowered his head. "My apologies, Your Grace, if my tardiness has caused you any inconvenience." After everything that had happened with Drémeadow, his primary concern was the Northchester City Watch. Had his deputy done okay in his absence or had it gone into disarray? "I encountered some... ah... difficulties."

    The Duke stroked his chin. It had stubble. He was usually too attentive for his appearance to be seen with stubble. That did not bode well. Was it anything to do with him or pure coincidence? Kiran would ask if everything was well, but his lord had what he and Nont'im privately called the "Benoit face" on. There would be no casual conversation until after they finished discussing Drémeadow. If even then. He could very well be in irons when the conversation was done. "I thought as much."

    Kiran winced. Duke Ivan's voice was never that cold. "My Lord, I need to tell you something. Something urgent."

    "Perhaps you intend to explain this?" Duke Ivan reached to the tallest of the piles and picked up a scroll resting across the top. He stood, reached across the desk and dropped it in front of Kiran. The seal was broken, but it bore what he recognized as the Foxtrot crest.

    The paladin winced. He could not say he was surprised but he'd still  hoped to give his side of the story first. What had that king said? How distorted were the facts? "A letter from Drémeadow, Your Grace," he said for the benefit of the refugees standing awkwardly near the doorway.

    "Indeed. Have you any conjectures about its contents, Constable?"

    The paladin folded his weatherbeaten hands in his lap and looked down. His voice came out flat and quiet. "I do. I fear things went wrong, Your Grace. Terribly wrong."

    "Well? Care to explain?"  As Kiran opened his mouth to answer, the Duke raised his voice several octaves. "Nigel! Byron!"  Kiran shut his mouth with a snap as the two guards reentered. For a terrifying instant, he thought the Duke was about to order his arrest. Instead, Ivan Benoit said "These halflings will be needing seats. See to it some are brought in. And perhaps some tea, they look as though they could use it. Am I right in thinking that's what you prefer to drink in Drémeadow over coffee?" Kiran knew the answer was yes, but kept quiet. They were similar to northern Cancalia in that regard. Coffee was more popular towards the south and east of the continent.

    The hobbits exchanged looks. Lindo took a step forward.  "Many of us do, Your Grace, thank you."

    The Duke gave a small nod. "Very well. Nigel and Byron, please have someone bring tea for me, Constable Mani and our guests." The two inclined their heads before taking their leave.

    "Now, then.  Constable Mani, I believe you were going to explain your guesses regarding this letter?"

    "With your permission, Your Grace."

    Duke Ivan raised an eyebrow. "You have it. Carry on."

    Kiran swallowed hard and began to speak. He rushed through the niceties of his first conversation with Drémeadow's king. There was no need for excessive details there. The Duke, as the younger brother of Cancalia's king, was perfectly familiar with diplomatic protocol agreed on by leaders around the continent in a convention of the Intracontinental Trade Alliance before he was born. Nor did he need to give a long-winded explanation about the Drémeadow king extending hospitality and protection for the duration of Kiran's stay. That too was standard practice. He did, however, bring up that he'd experienced several misgivings during his stay. "Those matter not though, Your Grace," said Kiran. "They are irrelevant to the letter and what happened, I expect."

    "Perhaps not," the Duke replied softly. "Explain them."

    Kiran glanced at the refugees then back at the Duke. He wasn't sure if he wanted to go into detail in front of the hobbits, especially Lindo. "With your permission, Your Grace, I wish to leave that until later."

    The Duke, who'd noticed Kiran's brief movement, said "Very well. Carry on, then. What exactly happened at their celebration of a new year?"

    Kiran's eyes widened. His lord wasn't even trying to hide what was in that letter anymore!  "Well, Your Grace, that was when..." he clenched his hands, "their king ordered me to leave. He'd thought I'd committed a serious crime."

    "That," said the Duke sharply, "is obvious. I am asking you what happened. You haven't yet explained why you have hobbits with you either. I'd appreciate it if you could make things add up for me."

    Kiran winced at the rebuke before launching into his account. It was a painful tale to tell. He started with agreeing to help with the admission process by joining the two princesses and two princes with carrying out the Pre-New Years Banquet tradition of welcoming guests in person as the one who'd be alongside them making sure they stayed safe. He then proceeded to explain how he'd overheard  Prince Folco arguing with his father about having to watch the kitchens when he wanted to spend time with his friends. He recounted how he'd encountered a middle-aged hobbit offering to watch the kitchen in Folco's stead. Then he explained about the process of checking guests in.

    "Did you see anything among the guests to arouse suspicion?" asked Duke Ivan.

    Kiran wished he could honestly say he had. He felt deeply ashamed of himself. If he'd paid more attention to his surroundings rather than taking it for granted all was well just because it seemed so, he might have an idea of who'd really poisoned Queen Arabella. "No, Your Grace. I wish I had, if one of them did this, but no." Even as he spoke, the idea occurred to him that the theory of the culprit being one of the guests had done it did not feel right. How would they have gotten into the kitchen without notice? No, it was more likely someone Drémeadow's royal family trusted. Common guests and even nobility and courtiers they saw only on occasion would have attracted the attention of King Hrothgar's guards. Most likely somebody they cared about and trusted had betrayed them. Poison was an insidious, personal way of ending a life. But who in Drémeadow wanted their queen Arabella Foxtrot dead?

    "I see. Proceed."

    Kiran continued  through the final moments of Arabella Foxtrot's life. When he reached the part where she'd proposed a toast and taken those fatal sips, his throat felt tight. When he began to tell of Hrothgar Foxtrot accusing him of the murder, his hands twitched in his lap. He then explained how Prince Folco had came forward to defend him, the points the teenaged hobbit raised and how the king refused to listen. The worst part of all was revealing to the Duke how King Hrothgar had ordered an attack on those calling for further investigation on Kiran's behalf. "That, Your Grace, is why I have these hobbits with me. They're but a few of many refugees, my lord. We've been wandering in the wilderness all these days. The rest are in a cave a few days northeast awaiting our return."

    Duke Ivan rubbed his temples. "You said Prince Folco defended you to his father before King Hrothgar . What became of him?"

    "Prince Folco left Drémeadow with me and the other refugees."

    "I see. But why did he not come here with you?"

    Lindo stepped forward. Both humans' eyes went to him. "He stayed back with the others, Your Grace," the young hobbit interjected. His hand moved toward a pocket in his muddy coat beneath his cloak. The is hand froze in midair. "May I take something out of my pocket?" He pointed where Kiran knew he stowed Folco's ring.

    "You have my leave."

    Lindo reached beneath his cloak, withdrawing a gold ring adorned with a small ruby,  citrine and agate next to each other- gems of the colors Drémeadow used in its standard. He handed it to the Duke, pointing at the Foxtrot emblem finely emblazoned in the band. "Prince Folco gave me this to show you to prove I'm here on his behalf."

    The Duke nodded slowly. "I see. I assume you are to speak for him? Could you tell me your name?"

    "I am, Your Grace. And it's Lindo Rivers, Your Grace."

    "Very well. Well then. What have you to say?"

    "Just that what Kiran says is true, Your Grace. He talked about Folco- sorry, Prince Folco- telling his father that Kiran being in sight of him and his friends most of the afternoon. I was one of those friends, sir. I'm the one Prince Folco was talking about when he told his father he didn't want to have to be in the kitchen. And I'm the one he joined after Mr. Sorefellow said he'd watch the kitchen for Folco. Not that he did a very good job watching, Your Grace, considering what happened..."

    Duke Ivan's mouth twitched slightly. "I see. Well, why is he with you and the other refugees?"

    "Because King Hrothgar made his guard attack us, Your Grace. And Fol... Prince Folco... he was scared, he thought what he did would be considered treason or something. That's what the king said the people saying he should investigate more before deciding it was Kiran were, traitors."

    "So it's because he spoke in Constable Mani's defense?"

    Lindo stiffened. "Constable Mani, I meant, I'm sorry, meant no off-"

    Duke Ivan cut the hobbit short with a wave of his hand. "If Constable Mani gave you leave to speak of him in the familiar, I'll not stop him or you, though I advise you to address him thus in front of those under him in our City Watch. Tell your fellow refugees the same."

    Lindo gave a sheepish smile. "I shall, Your Grace."His face then shifted into a quizzical expression  but he said nothing.

    Just then, there was a knock at the door of the study. "If it's the tea I asked for, open the door," called the Duke. The door opened, revealing two women. One bore a tray laden with eight mugs. "The halflings first, starting with the youngest" the Duke commanded. The woman without the tray removed a mug and handed it to Lindo, then proceeded to the other refugees, the Duke, who said "no need to wait for me, go ahead and start your tea" and finally Kiran. He took a sip once he had his mug. It was the first time Kiran had a properly hot drink since the banquet. He'd never tasted anything so wonderful.

    After a long silence, the Duke broke it. "Constable Mani, I wish to ask you one last thing to prove your innocence." His voice rose several decibels. "Nigel, I need you in here!"
    
    One of the guards outside the room, a man in his thirties with salt-and-pepper hair, entered. "Your Grace?"

    "Show Constable Mani your arm," said the Duke. Nigel looked perplexed. The Duke covered his own left forearm with his right hand. Comprehension dawning, Nigel rolled up the sleeve of his tunic to reveal a bandaged forearm.

    "What happened?" asked Kiran.

    "One of my boys decided it would be a good idea to use his brother's blade to spar with me without checking if it was fully blunted. My fault too, I should know better than to assume a ten-year-old will properly check, but I'd say we both learned our lessons the hard way!"

    Kiran grimaced. Stories like this made him glad he'd thus far chosen to remain fully celibate. He couldnt decide which sounded most challenging, small boys getting into everything, small girls  getting upset about everything or teenagers being teenagers. The important thing now  though was what the Duke wanted. He had his suspicions but nonetheless said "Your Grace?"

    "I wish you to heal that wound so I know you still have your powers. I know you'd have lost them if you'd poisoned Drémeadow's queen. I want to believe you, what I was sent truly doesn't add up, but need to be certain. If you've used too much energy today, though, I'll think of something else or can wait until tomorrow."

    "I understand, I expected no less, Your Grace. I should prove I still have them. I can do it today," said Kiran. "Nigel, please take off your bandage so we can do this." Once the bandage had been removed, Kiran placed his palms on top of the injured area, carefully avoiding direct contact with the cut, and closed his eyes, concentrating on his prayer and imagining the skin knitting together,

    After he felt the energy exit his hands, leaving him feeling slightly less awake than before, Kiran removed his hands. Nigel's injury was gone. The Duke stared, then relaxed visibly. "Thank goodess," he said breathlessly. "I'd hoped you still had your paladin powers. This is a relief. It means I can still trust you. It means you are innocent. Forgive me, I had to be sure."

    Kiran winced, slightly embarrassed his lord saw fit to apologize. "I took no offense, Your Grace, it's no more than  I expected." The Duke, he thought, would have been remiss in his duties as Northchester's protector and King Irwin's younger brother  if he had not checked. Especially since His Majesty was out of Cancalia, meaning the Duke was overseeing the north while Queen Arlena saw to the affairs of central and southern Cancalia in King Irwin's absence. Crown Prince Lamar, at fourteen, was too young for such things just yet.

    "The question is," said Duke Ivan, "what we are to do about your... predicament. But first, I could not help but notice your clothes. I've never seen you in such poorly fitting attire. By the looks of your companions, my guess is you cannot have had many proper meals since the death of Drémeadow's queen. Am I near the mark?"

    "Perfect bulls-eye," said Lindo. "Sorry," he added hastily under a quick glance from Kiran.

    "That will have to change, now, won't it?" said the Duke. Now keeping his eyes on Lindo, he added "it seems you could all do with a hot bath as well. Food, a hot bath, and I suggest you all stay the night so you get a good night's sleep. I don't imagine you've had one of those in a while. I'll have my servants look for the clothing of my sons and daughter used at play when children too. Lindo Rivers, I wish to speak with you and Kiran after you've all eaten. Kiran, please ask one of my servants to show the halflings where they can get baths and to see to it a place is prepared for them to sleep tonight. And send a message to the kitchen that food needs to be made for them. You have my leave to go."

    Kiran inclined his head, the hobbits mimicking him, and they departed from the room.
    

Author's Note

This chapter was inserted after everything through "Dire Consequences" was already written and posted. Please let me know if you notice any inconsistencies. If you've read later chapters and think something still needs more showing and explaining, please let me know that too.

Also, ought I to separate this into two chapters right before they're in the Duke's or leave this as one chapter?

Please let me know any other feedback you have!

Reviews

[jjwilbourne]

I'm not sure still if there are any inconsistencies. I think, once you finish the book, I'll have to reread the entire story from beginning to end to make sure.
I don't think this one needs to be split.
I have some notes here: https://diigo.com/06hb6p
I'm gonna jump back to where I left off near the end of what you've written for this book.
Great work!

[SpeedyHobbit Armstrong]

Thanks for the notes, must go through to make sure I did soon!

[NoelHC]

I think it does not require splitting. Well done, again.

[SpeedyHobbit Armstrong]

Thank00 my friend!

[Jennie Baron]

My choice would be not to split this chapter. It would work either way, but the first scene would make a very short chapter and I think the two scenes go together well.

You still have great dialogue and weave the story skillfully. I like the Duke so far; he seems like a very fair and wise leader.

[SpeedyHobbit Armstrong]

Thanks so much! Funny thing is this and the previous chapter and one soon to come right after this was originally supposed to be one inserted chapter. Oops.

As for the Duke, he definitely tries to be